(international law) the right of an officer of a belligerent state to stop and search neutral ships in war to verify their nationality and ascertain whether they carry contraband: the right of visit and search

13.

(US & Canadian, informal) a friendly talk or chat

Derived Forms

visitable, adjective

Word Origin

C13: from Latin vīsitāre to go to see, from vīsere to examine, from vidēre to see

early 13c., "come to (a person) to comfort or benefit," from Old French visiter, from Latin visitare "to go to see, come to inspect," frequentative of visere "behold, visit" (a person or place), from past participle stem of videre "to see, notice, observe" (see vision). Originally of the deity, later of pastors and doctors (c.1300), general sense of "pay a call" is from 1620s. Meaning "come upon, afflict" (in reference to sickness, punishment, etc.) is recorded from mid-14c. Related: Visited; visiting.